Steam iron structure



STEAM IRON .STRUCTURE Filed Nw'. e, 19:59 2 sheets-sheet 1 July 7, 41942i `H. cARLsc'JN 2,288,785

, STEAM IRON sTRUpTURE I Filed Nov. 6, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y y Z7Q/ZMUQWM/W Patented July 7, 1942 STEAM IRON STRUCTURE Harry Carlson,Chicago, Ill., assignor to Colfax Engineering Co., Chicago, lll., acorporation of Illinois Application November s, '1939, serial No.3113,111

(ci. sis-'17) 3 Claims. This invention relates to steam iron structuresof the well-known type in which an electric heating unit is employed forproducing steam from a quantity of water located in the body of theiron, such steam being released through openings in the bottom adjacentto the point of the iron. It isV the object of this invention to providea 'new and improved form and arrangement of parts by reason of which ahighly superior iron from the standpoint of operation and durabilitylabor and materials.

For bringing about these results, the body of the iron has been made inthe form of a single integral casting of aluminum alloy arranged withthe receptacle for the water, the chamber for the heating unit, and theduct for the delivery of the steam all formed substantially complete inthe casting so as to be closed effectively by the mere addition of ahandle member and a heel plate. In the construction illustrated, thearrangement is such that the machining of the body of the iron and theassembly of the iron complete can be eiected very quicklyand easily,practically the complete machining operation required being limited tothe drilling and tapping of three bolt openings and the drilling of theopenings in the bottom for the escape of the steam. By the improvedarrangement as shown, the necessity for fluid-tight joints is avoided atall points except at the surfaces where thehandle is connected with thebody of the iron, and these joints are such that plain straight sheetgaskets are effective forlong periods of years andl areeasily re.-placeable by any one with little or no mechanical ability if it isnecessary eventually to substitute new gaskets.

It is another object of this inventionto improve irons of this type insundry details hereinafter brought out, in the description of theconstruction. The preferred'means by which the several objects of theinvention have been attained are illustrated l in the accompanyingdrawings, in

winch- Fig. 1 is a top plan of iron; Fig. 2 is a central verticalsection taken substantially at the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially at the line3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end'view of the iron as seen from the right in Fig. 2;

view of the preferred form` can be produced at a minimum expenditure ofFig. 8 but showing a modified form of construction;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially'at theline 1-1of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken sub# stantiall;1v at the line8--8 of Fig.A 1; and

Fig. 9 'is a horizontal .sectional view taken substantially at the line9 9 of Fig. 8.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, in which corresponding partsare indicated by the same reference characters, Il! indicates the bodyof the iron in the form of a casting formed preferably of aluminumalloy. As is best shown in Fig. 2, the body ID is hollowed out toprovide a Water chamber II and a duct I2, a plate' I3 formed integrallywith the bo'dy portion being provided in transverse position at the topof the iron for closingthe top of the chamber II except forcomparatively small` openings at I4 and I5 at the front and rear endportions of the casting. As is best shown in Fig. 8, the opening I4 islocated closely adjacent to the upper end ofthe duct I2 so as to make itpossible to close both openings by the use of a. comparatively smallclosure member. As is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the

-duct I2 communicates at its lower end with a plurality of openings I6through the bottom face of the iron at its forward point so-as to permitFig. 51s a vertical section taken substantially at the une s-fs or Fig.2:

sage downwardly through the `duct.

, The body I0 of the iron is also provided with a chamber I'I for thereception of an electric heating unit I8 of any approved type, thechamber I1 being quite shallow so asto receive the heating unit I8readily into position with a thin layer I9 of asbestos or other suitableinsulation above the unit and a considerably thicker layer 20 ofinsulation below the unit. h In the arrangement shown, the heating unitI 8 is provided with two contacts 2| and 22 which extend upwardly at theheel portion of the iron when'the unit I8 is in operative position inthe chamber I1.

For closing the chamber Il for holding the heating unit I8 in operativeposition, a heel plate 23 is provided, also formed preferably as .acasting, being held in position by a screw 24 tapped into a lug 25provided on the rear wall of the chamber. II. The plate 23 is providedwith a porcelain block 25 which is slipped into position in a suitableopening through the plate,` the contacts 2| and 22 being held firmly inoperative position by their connection withthe heating unit and theircontact with the. block 26,

The means provided for closing the openings Fig. 6 is aj' verticalsectional view similar to`55 I2. I4 and I5-at the top of the castingcomprises a handle member 21 in the form of a yoke whose legs fit downon top of the several openings, straight sheet gaskets 28 and 29 beinginterposed between the casting and the bearing portions of the handle.The handle and gaskets are held in effective closune position by meansof a machine screw 38 engaging a tapped opening in a lug 3l on the innerface of the water chamber II and a tubular bolt 32 tapped into a lug 33at the top of the casting, such bolts passing through suitable openingsin the gaskets 28 and 29. lThe arrangement is such that the tubular bolt32 affords access to the water chamber I I for filling the chamber, theupper end of the bolt 32 being closed by a screw-threaded head 34, asuitable gasket 35 being employed in connection with said head 34. Foraffording communication between the water chamber II and the duct I2 atthe top of the casting, a notch 39 is provided in the upper edge of thewall portion 40, as is best shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

In Figs. 6 and 7, a modified form of means is illustrated for providingcommunication between the top portion of the water chamber II and theupper end of the duct I2. In the modiiiedconstruction as shown in Figs.6 and '7, a handle member 38 is employed similar to the handle 21 exceptthat it is provided with openings 36 and 31 in communication with eachother at their upper ends in lieu of the notch 39 as above described. Astraight sheet gasket II is provided between the handle 38 and thecasting, having small openings therethrough in registration lwith theopenings 36 and 31 so as to make such open.

ings effective for the passage of steam from the chamber II to the ductI2.

The improved arrangement as above described.

is suchthat the work of preparing the casting after its production andof assembling the iron complete is comparatively small. The openings I6are drilled preferably by a single operation in a multiple drillmachine; the tapping ofthe opening for the bolt v24 isquicklyaccomplished as a second operation after which the heating unit I8 canbe readily inserted and the heel plate 23 applied; and the openings inthe lugs 3I and 33 can be quickly tapped for the reception of the bolts30 and 32. formed in the casting operation; if the arrangement shown inFigs. 6 and '1 is used, the openings 36 and 31 can be very quickly boredby the use of a simple jig.

The arrangement is such that when the iron has been assembled it ishighly effective in operation. With a substantial amount of water in thechamber II, and with the contacts 22 connected with a suitable source ofelectric current, the water in the chamber II is very quickly heated soas to cause steam to pass from the chamber II into the duct I2 andthence downwardly andout through the openings I 6. Inasmuch as astraight sheet gasket. is employed between the handle and the castingI0, both in the construction shown in Figs. 6 and '1 and also in theconstruction shown in Figs. 8 and 9, there is ample assurance that thejoint between the handle and the casting is effectively closed and thatthe joint under any normal conditions will be effective for many years.If at any time the substitution of a new gasket is required, this can beeffected by almost anyone with very little or no mechanical skill withthe assurance that the joint after the substitution of the new gasketwill be again effectively closed.

In case it becomes necessary to substitute a changes might well be madein the arrangement without departing from the invention.

I claim:

1. A steam iron structure, comprising in combination an integral castinghaving a Water chamber and a duct formed therein and opening at the topportion of the casting, means adapted effectively toclose and seal thechamber and duct and to connect them in communication with each other atthe top of the casting, comprising a handle member and a plain straightsheet gasket covering the openings from the chamber and the duct, meanscomprising a tubular bolt for holding the handle and gasket in effectiveclosure positionand serving as a 'means for filling the water chamber,and means for closing the opening through said tubular bolt so as todirect steam downwardly through said duct from the top of the waterchamber for escape through 4 ing the top of the water chamber except forThe notch 39 is preferably I comparatively small openings at the frontand rear end portions of the casting, and with a. duct arranged at thepoint of the iron extending upwardly from an opening in the bottom faceof the iron and along the front face of the water chamber and openingclosely adjacent to the front opening from said chamber, and meanscomprising a handle member in the form of a yoke removably secured inposition on said casting with the leg portions of the yoke extendingdownwardly and with the bottom faces of the legs of the yoke closingsaid three openings at the top of the casting so as to direct steamdownwardly through said duct from the top of the water chamber forescape through said opening in the bottom face of the iron.

3. A steam iron structure, comprising in combination an integral castinghaving a water chamber formed in the body portion of the casting with atransversely positioned plate formed integrally with the body portionfor closing the top of the water chamber except for comparatively smallopenings at the front and rear end portions of the casting, and with aduct arranged at the point of the iron extending upwardly from anopening in the bottom face of the iron and along the front face of thewater chamber and opening closely adjacentio the front opening from saidchamber, said casting being provided further with a shallow chambercored out of the casting at the bottom portion thereof in rear of theduct for the reception of aheating unit, and a handle iixedly secured tosaid casting and having a face portion at one end closing two of saidthree openings at the top of the casting yand a face portion at theother end closing the other of said three openings.

Harney CARLSON. A

